Finding translators for mission projects

It is hard to find a good balance between host church and sending church partners. Typically the sending church inadvertently fosters dependency. In a three-year partnership relationship, the sending church can so shower the host church with resources that it actually harms the spiritual health of the host church and demonstrates poor stewardship over its resources.

Wherever there is an opportunity to bring some balance to the relationship by allowing the host church the dignity of bringing resources to the partnership, it is a good thing. One example of this is the recruitment of translators.

If an American church is going to provide a host pastor with free labor for a week or more, that is a blessing to the host church that needs a counter-balancing investment. Some churches attempt to prepare lunch for the groups, others give them gifts. At AIM, we have developed the practice of hiring translators for its projects. This ensures continuity of effort and is efficient. However, a more balanced approach would require the host church to provide translators for the project.

By requiring that the host church provide translators, we transfer this onerous logistical detail to the ones who will get the greatest benefit from it – the host church. Short-term mission staff may help them identify where they can find these translators, but they should ask that the host church arrange one translator for every six people if your team is going to do an outreach campaign with them.